Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 1 in 8 deaths in 2019.
A new study published on November 22 in The Lancet examined deaths caused by 33 common bacterial pathogens and 11 types of infections across 204 countries and territories. The results revealed that these bacterial pathogens were responsible for 7.7 million deaths—accounting for 13.6% of total global deaths—in 2019, a year before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.
Infections have become the second leading cause of death after stroke. (Illustrative image).
According to the study, infections have become the second leading cause of death, after ischemic heart disease, which includes stroke. Notably, only 5 out of the 33 bacteria studied were responsible for 50% of deaths due to infectious diseases, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. S. aureus is a common bacterium found on human skin and in the nose, capable of causing various illnesses, while E. coli is often associated with food poisoning.
The study also highlighted significant disparities between rich and poor regions. For example, in the Sub-Saharan region, the death rate from infections was 230 per 100,000 people, whereas this figure was only 52 per 100,000 in areas classified as “high-income and ultra-high-income,” such as Western Europe, North America, and Australia.
Co-author of the study, Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation based in the United States, emphasized that this data is the first to illustrate the public health challenges posed by infectious diseases globally.
Therefore, it is essential to incorporate these findings into global health initiatives to further investigate pathogens that could lead to death, as well as to ensure adequate investment to reduce infection and mortality rates. The authors also called for increased funding, including investments in new vaccines, to reduce mortality rates while warning against “the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.” Additionally, experts recommend that the public frequently wash their hands to prevent infections.
This research was conducted as part of the Global Burden of Disease program—a large-scale research initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, involving thousands of researchers worldwide.
